Washington Electrician License Requirements

Official classification: Electrician Certificate of Competency (Journey Level / Specialty) + Electrical Contractor License · Issued by the Washington Department of Labor & Industries (L&I), Electrical Program.

⚡ ElectricianWA ✔ Verified 2026-09-30

In Washington, electricians must hold the Electrician Certificate of Competency (Journey Level / Specialty) + Electrical Contractor License, issued by the Washington Department of Labor & Industries (L&I), Electrical Program, and a $4,000 surety bond is required. Full requirements — experience, exams, fees, insurance, renewal and reciprocity — are detailed below.

How to become a licensed electrician in Washington

Follow these steps to earn your Electrician Certificate of Competency (Journey Level / Specialty) + Electrical Contractor License. Every figure is verified against the Washington Department of Labor & Industries (L&I), Electrical Program; full detail for each step is further down the page.

Build the required experience. Journey Level (01): 8,000 hours of documented electrical construction experience under supervision (maximum 4,000 hours in specialty work), plus 96 hours of basic electrical instruction. Specialty (4,000-hr categories): 4,000 hours in the specialty plus 48 classroom hours. Specialty (2,000-hr categories): 2,000 hours at 100% supervision plus 24 classroom hours post-exam. Master Electrician: 4 years as a certified journey level electrician, or 2 years as a certified specialty electrician.
Pass the Journey Level / Specialty Electrician Exam and Master Electrician Exam exams. Providers, passing scores and fees are in the Exams section below.
Secure your surety bond. Washington requires $4,000 Washington Continuous Electrical/Telecommunications Contractor's Surety Bond (electrical contractor license only; no bond required for individual electrician certificates).
Check the insurance rules. Liability: General liability insurance is encouraged but not mandated by L&I for electrical contractors; L&I does not maintain records of contractor liability insurance. Commonly required by project owners. Workers' compensation: Required through L&I state fund if the business employs workers (Washington is a monopolistic workers' compensation state — coverage must be purchased from L&I, not private carriers).
Clear the background check. Not publicly required by L&I for electrician certification or contractor license (official L&I pages do not mention a criminal background check requirement).
Submit your application and fees. Apply through the Washington Department of Labor & Industries (L&I), Electrical Program — $114.60 (journey/specialty certificate application, includes original certificate); $204.60 (master electrician exam application, includes certificate); $48.10 online / $56.00 mail or in person (trainee); Electrical Contractor License: $353.90 plus $53.00 to assign the administrator or master electrician ($406.90 total) application fee, plus a Included in application fee above license fee. Processing time: Electrical contractor license: 8–10 weeks after receipt of complete application. Individual electrician certificates: timing varies; contact L&I Electrical Program at 360-902-5269.
Keep the license active. Renewal: Every 3 years (journey level, specialty, master); every 2 years (trainee, electrical contractor license). Certificates expire on holder's birthdate. Continuing education: 24 hours per 3-year renewal cycle: 8 hours on current NEC code changes, 4 hours on RCW 19.28 / WAC updates, 12 hours on approved elective topics.

For the general path in every state, see the Electrician guide →

Washington electrician license lookup

To confirm an electrician is properly licensed in Washington — or to check the status of your own license — search the issuing agency's official license database. The record shows whether the license is active and in good standing.

Verify a license now: Search the official secure.lni.wa.gov database →

License types

Electrical Trainee — Entry-level workers learning under supervision of a certified electrician. No independent work permitted.
Specialty Electrician (e.g., Residential 02, HVAC/Refrigeration 06A, Limited Energy 06) — Certified to perform electrical work limited to a specific scope; 14 specialty categories available with 2,000–4,000 hours of experience required depending on category.
Journey Level Electrician (01) — May perform all types of electrical and telecommunications installations statewide.
Master Electrician — Advanced certification; may supervise and sign off on all electrical work. General or specialty designations available.
Electrical Contractor License — Business-entity license required to contract for electrical work. Must designate a certified electrical administrator or master electrician.

Requirements at a glance

Experience required	Journey Level (01): 8,000 hours of documented electrical construction experience under supervision (maximum 4,000 hours in specialty work), plus 96 hours of basic electrical instruction. Specialty (4,000-hr categories): 4,000 hours in the specialty plus 48 classroom hours. Specialty (2,000-hr categories): 2,000 hours at 100% supervision plus 24 classroom hours post-exam. Master Electrician: 4 years as a certified journey level electrician, or 2 years as a certified specialty electrician.
Application fee	$114.60 (journey/specialty certificate application, includes original certificate); $204.60 (master electrician exam application, includes certificate); $48.10 online / $56.00 mail or in person (trainee); Electrical Contractor License: $353.90 plus $53.00 to assign the administrator or master electrician ($406.90 total)
License fee	Included in application fee above
Renewal fee	Journey/Specialty: $92.60 (online) / $106.40 (mail or in person) every 3 years; Master: $175.70 (online) / $202.20 (mail or in person) every 3 years; Trainee: $59.20 (online) / $67.90 (mail or in person) every 2 years; Electrical Contractor License: $306.20 (online) / $353.90 (mail or in person) every 2 years
Renewal period	Every 3 years (journey level, specialty, master); every 2 years (trainee, electrical contractor license). Certificates expire on holder's birthdate.
Continuing education	24 hours per 3-year renewal cycle: 8 hours on current NEC code changes, 4 hours on RCW 19.28 / WAC updates, 12 hours on approved elective topics.
Bond required	$4,000 Washington Continuous Electrical/Telecommunications Contractor's Surety Bond (electrical contractor license only; no bond required for individual electrician certificates)
Liability insurance	General liability insurance is encouraged but not mandated by L&I for electrical contractors; L&I does not maintain records of contractor liability insurance. Commonly required by project owners.
Property damage	—
Workers' comp	Required through L&I state fund if the business employs workers (Washington is a monopolistic workers' compensation state — coverage must be purchased from L&I, not private carriers).
Background check	Not publicly required by L&I for electrician certification or contractor license (official L&I pages do not mention a criminal background check requirement).
Credit requirement	None
Reciprocity	Oregon (journey level only — reciprocal agreement for journeyman electricians who meet Washington apprenticeship requirements) · compare all states
Processing time	Electrical contractor license: 8–10 weeks after receipt of complete application. Individual electrician certificates: timing varies; contact L&I Electrical Program at 360-902-5269.

What a Washington electrician license costs

Application fee	$114.60 (journey/specialty certificate application, includes original certificate); $204.60 (master electrician exam application, includes certificate); $48.10 online / $56.00 mail or in person (trainee); Electrical Contractor License: $353.90 plus $53.00 to assign the administrator or master electrician ($406.90 total).
License fee	Included in application fee above.
Journey Level / Specialty Electrician Exam	Set by PSI's contract with L&I; $80.30 when the department administers the exam. Application fee $114.60 (WAC 296-46B-909).
Master Electrician Exam	Set by PSI's contract with L&I; $106.70 first attempt / $125.00 retest when the department administers the exam. Application fee $204.60, includes certificate (WAC 296-46B-909).
Surety bond	$4,000 Washington Continuous Electrical/Telecommunications Contractor's Surety Bond (electrical contractor license only; no bond required for individual electrician certificates). A bond's premium is a percentage of the bond amount, set by the surety.
Renewal fee	Journey/Specialty: $92.60 (online) / $106.40 (mail or in person) every 3 years; Master: $175.70 (online) / $202.20 (mail or in person) every 3 years; Trainee: $59.20 (online) / $67.90 (mail or in person) every 2 years; Electrical Contractor License: $306.20 (online) / $353.90 (mail or in person) every 2 years.
Renewal period	Every 3 years (journey level, specialty, master); every 2 years (trainee, electrical contractor license). Certificates expire on holder's birthdate.

Exams

Journey Level / Specialty Electrician Exam	Provider: PSI (for L&I) · Passing: 70% or greater on each section · Fee: Set by PSI's contract with L&I; $80.30 when the department administers the exam. Application fee $114.60 (WAC 296-46B-909)
Master Electrician Exam	Provider: PSI (for L&I) · Passing: 70% or greater on each section · Fee: Set by PSI's contract with L&I; $106.70 first attempt / $125.00 retest when the department administers the exam. Application fee $204.60, includes certificate (WAC 296-46B-909)

Renewing a Washington electrician license

The Electrician Certificate of Competency (Journey Level / Specialty) + Electrical Contractor License renews on a fixed cycle set by the Washington Department of Labor & Industries (L&I), Electrical Program. Finish the continuing-education requirement before you file — boards generally will not process a renewal without it. Late and lapsed renewals are handled differently by every board, so check the renewal page linked below before the deadline passes.

Renewal period	Every 3 years (journey level, specialty, master); every 2 years (trainee, electrical contractor license). Certificates expire on holder's birthdate.
Renewal fee	Journey/Specialty: $92.60 (online) / $106.40 (mail or in person) every 3 years; Master: $175.70 (online) / $202.20 (mail or in person) every 3 years; Trainee: $59.20 (online) / $67.90 (mail or in person) every 2 years; Electrical Contractor License: $306.20 (online) / $353.90 (mail or in person) every 2 years
Continuing education	24 hours per 3-year renewal cycle: 8 hours on current NEC code changes, 4 hours on RCW 19.28 / WAC updates, 12 hours on approved elective topics.
Where to renew	Washington Department of Labor & Industries (L&I), Electrical Program

Local / municipal notes

Seattle requires separate city permits and has its own electrical inspection program. Some jurisdictions may require a local business license.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Washington electrician license cost?

Application: $114.60 (journey/specialty certificate application, includes original certificate); $204.60 (master electrician exam application, includes certificate); $48.10 online / $56.00 mail or in person (trainee); Electrical Contractor License: $353.90 plus $53.00 to assign the administrator or master electrician ($406.90 total). License: Included in application fee above. Renewal: Journey/Specialty: $92.60 (online) / $106.40 (mail or in person) every 3 years; Master: $175.70 (online) / $202.20 (mail or in person) every 3 years; Trainee: $59.20 (online) / $67.90 (mail or in person) every 2 years; Electrical Contractor License: $306.20 (online) / $353.90 (mail or in person) every 2 years.

How do I look up a electrician license in Washington?

Search the official license database at secure.lni.wa.gov. The record shows whether the license is active and in good standing.

Do electricians in Washington need a surety bond?

$4,000 Washington Continuous Electrical/Telecommunications Contractor's Surety Bond (electrical contractor license only; no bond required for individual electrician certificates)

What experience is required for a Washington electrician license?

Journey Level (01): 8,000 hours of documented electrical construction experience under supervision (maximum 4,000 hours in specialty work), plus 96 hours of basic electrical instruction. Specialty (4,000-hr categories): 4,000 hours in the specialty plus 48 classroom hours. Specialty (2,000-hr categories): 2,000 hours at 100% supervision plus 24 classroom hours post-exam. Master Electrician: 4 years as a certified journey level electrician, or 2 years as a certified specialty electrician.

Is insurance required for electricians in Washington?

Liability: General liability insurance is encouraged but not mandated by L&I for electrical contractors; L&I does not maintain records of contractor liability insurance. Commonly required by project owners. Workers' compensation: Required through L&I state fund if the business employs workers (Washington is a monopolistic workers' compensation state — coverage must be purchased from L&I, not private carriers).

How long does it take to get a Washington electrician license?

Processing time: Electrical contractor license: 8–10 weeks after receipt of complete application. Individual electrician certificates: timing varies; contact L&I Electrical Program at 360-902-5269.

Is a background check required for electricians in Washington?

Background check: Not publicly required by L&I for electrician certification or contractor license (official L&I pages do not mention a criminal background check requirement).

How often must a Washington electrician license be renewed?

Every 3 years (journey level, specialty, master); every 2 years (trainee, electrical contractor license). Certificates expire on holder's birthdate. Continuing education: 24 hours per 3-year renewal cycle: 8 hours on current NEC code changes, 4 hours on RCW 19.28 / WAC updates, 12 hours on approved elective topics.

Fees and rules change frequently (often annually). This page was last verified on 2026-09-30 — always confirm current requirements directly with the Washington Department of Labor & Industries (L&I), Electrical Program before applying. This is not legal advice.